Saulsbury Warm Spring
Saulsbury Warm Spring flows at 86°F within the Toiyabe National Forest, maintaining a temperature 35.5°F above ambient air at 6,523 feet elevation. Recent USGS measurements confirm 30°C water with alkaline pH of 8.1 and notably low mineral content at 229 mg/L TDS. The spring sits 1,392 meters from the nearest road, requiring a short walk to access.
Located in Nye County's high desert mountains, the spring occupies terrain managed by the US Forest Service near Tonopah, a historic mining hub. At 6,523 feet elevation, the site experiences typical central Nevada basin-and-range topography with sagebrush-covered slopes and scattered pinyon-juniper woodland. Annual precipitation averages 8.3 inches with 28.7 inches of snow, supporting sparse vegetation adapted to the cold-winter, dry-summer climate. The spring emerges in open terrain characteristic of National Forest lands subject to multiple-use management including grazing and mineral extraction.
The spring takes its name from early settlers or prospectors in the Tonopah district, which boomed after silver discoveries in 1900. The National Forest designation dates to the early 20th century consolidation of Nevada's scattered mountain ranges under federal management. Records of Indigenous use are limited in available documentation. Current status remains as an undeveloped thermal seep on public land.
Visit May through October when snow has melted and unpaved Forest Service roads become passable. A short walk from parking requires sturdy footwear for uneven ground. The spring's remote location and 6,500-foot elevation mean rapid weather changes and limited cell service. Combine with exploration of Tonopah's mining history or visits to other central Nevada hot springs accessible via dirt roads.
Is Saulsbury Warm Spring worth visiting?
Best for
- Warm-water soaking
The water at Saulsbury Warm Spring is slightly alkaline (pH 8.1) with 229 mg/L total dissolved solids.